Jo's Trip to Abu Dhabi

By Jo Fagan

Jos Trip To Abu Dhabi

 

I recently had the opportunity to travel to Abu Dhabi, the largest of the United Arab Emirates, courtesy of the Abu Dhabi Tourist Board and Etihad Airways, the flag carrier of Abu Dhabi. We flew directly from Dublin, and the flight time was about 7 hours and 45 minutes.

Location

Our hotel was the Rixos Premium Saadiyat Island, located next to the sea and close to other hotels like the Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi. This was an opulent five-star hotel with stunning architecture and design and had a large swimming pool as well as direct access to the beach. It was only a half hour journey by car from the airport to our hotel. I loved the location and thought there was loads to do within a few minutes’ walk.


What I Loved

I really enjoyed taking a trip to Yas Island, an island complex with great theme parks, shopping and even a Formula 1 track. This was less than a 15-minute drive from the hotel, and we had great fun especially at Warner Bros World Theme Park. Yas Island is a perfect spot for families especially.


Activities & Places to See

  • Other great places on Yas Island included Ferrari Land theme park and Yas Waterworld, a great waterpark for cooling down in the desert heat.
  • For art lovers, the Louvre Abu Dhabi is a must-see, and is located in a really interesting building on Saadiyat Island.
  • We also visited the interesting Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the largest mosque in the country. It’s well worth a visit, but remember to cover up as a mark of respect, and women aren’t allowed to wear white.


Shopping

We spent some time shopping in the great Abu Dhabi Mall, with over 200 shops near the city centre. Prices are similar enough to Ireland for the popular brands like Zara or H&M. Other malls include the Marina Mall and the Avenue at Etihad for more boutique shopping.


Food and Bars

Unfortunately, we didn’t have a lot of time to eat in local restaurants or sample local cuisines, so I can’t wait to spend more time there next time and try more local food. Seafood from the Persian Gulf is very popular, along with kabsa and maqluba, traditional mixed rice dishes. There are a number of bars and clubs in Abu Dhabi, and alcohol is also served in most hotels, but keep in mind that it isn’t as widely available as in other countries.


Beaches

Abu Dhabi has some great beaches along the Persian Gulf, and the weather is always warm and perfect for soaking up some sun. The main beach is Abu Dhabi Beach, which is more than two miles long, and there is also the Corniche Beach, which is divided into zones for families and groups with quiet areas and a lovely boardwalk.

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